New Hanover GOP nominates Hickey to fill county seat

Thursday

Dec 13, 2012 at 8:40 PM

New Hanover County Republican Party nominated Dr. Derrick Hickey to replace a commissioner elected to N.C. House

By Ashley WithersAshley.Withers@StarNewsOnline.com

The New Hanover County Republican Party nominated Derrick Hickey Thursday evening to replace a commissioner who was recently elected to the N.C. House of Representatives.Rick Catlin resigned from the county board of commissioners Dec. 3, giving the GOP the opportunity to recommend someone to fill in for the remainder of his term, which ends in 2014.Hickey, a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education, ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner earlier this year.Hickey said he is "excited" about the opportunity."We had a very close election where I was narrowly defeated by a very popular incumbent," Hickey said. "I was the fourth highest vote getter and there is no one better to vet a candidate than the people you will be serving."Several school board members turned out the GOP meeting to show their support for Hickey. He said they played a big part in his selection.The move comes one day after the GOP's nominating committee selected Thomas Wolfe to fill the seat. Wolfe is the chairman of the county's ABC board and works in the commercial real estate market.There is no guarantee that Hickey will fill the seat.The remaining four commissioners can either accept the GOP recommendation or appoint their own candidate.Chairman Woody White along with Vice Chairman Beth Dawson and Commissioner Brian Berger attended the meeting. "I think it was an interesting exercise in democracy," White said of the meeting. Hickey has the support of at least one member of the board. Berger said after an agenda review in September he wants a candidate who is an "independent thinker," and said Hickey would be a good choice."He is such a good choice and such a strong leader," Berger said after the nomination was announced. "That is what we need in office, not more of the same. I couldn't imagine a better candidate. Frankly, if Woody or Beth were to vote against him or use dirty political tactics to undermine him, it would speak volumes about their character."The Board of Commissioners will meet to make its pick in a special meeting Friday at 1 p.m.